PUBLIC
    AI Index: MDE 13/009/2002
    19 June 2002

    UA 184/02

    Fear of ill treatment / torture / Detention without charge

    IRAN

    Yousuf Torfi, (m) aged 16
    ‘Abd al -Mu'min Torfi (m)
    Bahram Azeri (m)
    Sayed Musa Kazemi (m)
    Sayed ‘Isa Kazemi (m)
    Ahmad Kazemi (m)
    Zahid Anbari (m)
    Sa'id Ansari (m)
    Ahmad Mohammadi (m)
    Kazem Solimani (m)
    Nader Shirvani (m)
    Mahmoud Sabri (m)
    Ahmad 'Afri (m)

    Those named above, including sixteen year old Yousuf Torfi, who is a member of Iran's Arab minority, were reportedly detained without charge on 10 June at Tehran's Mehrabad airport. They were reportedly held in connection with passport and visa violations, though their arrest may have been politically motivated. There are fears for their safety, following reports that Yousuf Torfi is at risk of torture or ill-treatment.

    The detainees are reportedly being held near the airport by the Edare-ye Amaken, (The Administration of Premises) an organization which is allegedly responsible for the enforcement of accepted moral codes in companies and other offices. They have reportedly been denied access to their families and legal representation.

    Yousuf Torfi is said to be under “a great deal of pressure”, leading to fears that he may be facing ill treatment and possibly torture. Members of his family have been contacted by an official from Edare-ye Amaken seeking over $US 23 000 in return for his release and in order to insure that he is not imprisoned for 15 years.

    There is no further information concerning the twelve other individuals arrested at the same time as Yousuf Torfi.

    RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send appeals to arrive as quickly as possible, in English, French, Persian or your own language:
    - seeking assurances that Yousuf Torfi and the twelve individuals named above, are not facing ill treatment or torture while in detention;
    - urging the authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the detainees unless they are to be charged with an internationally recognized criminal offence;
    - expressing concern that they have been denied access to their family and the right to legal representation while in detention;
    - reminding the authorities that Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which under Article 7 states: "No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment".

    APPEALS TO:

    Leader of the Islamic Republic
    His Excellency Ayatollah Sayed 'Ali Khamenei,
    The Presidency,
    Palestine Avenue,
    Azerbaijan Intersection,
    Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
    Telegrams: Ayatollah Khamenei, Tehran, Iran
    Salutation: Your Excellency

    President
    His Excellency Hojjatoleslam val Moslemin Sayed Mohammad Khatami
    The Presidency,
    Palestine Avenue
    Azerbaijan Intersection,
    Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
    Telegrams: President Khatami, Tehran, Iran
    E-mail: khatami@president.ir
    Salutation: Your Excellency

    Head of the Judiciary
    His Excellency Ayatollah Mahmoud Hashemi Shahrudi
    Ministry of Justice
    Park-e Shahr
    Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
    Telegrams: Head of Judiciary, Tehran, Iran
    Salutation: Your Excellency

    Minister of the Interior
    Abdolvahed Moussavi-Lari
    Ministry of the Interior
    Dr Fatemi Avenue
    Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
    Telegrams: Interior Minister, Tehran, Iran
    Fax: + 98 21 896 0203 (it may be difficult to through but please keep trying)
    Salutation: Your Excellency

    COPIES TO:

    Minister of Foreign Affairs,
    His Excellency Kamal Kharrazi
    Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdolmajid Keshk-e Mesri Av
    Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
    Telegrams: Foreign Affairs Minister, Tehran, Iran
    Faxes: + 98 21 390 1999 (it may be difficult to through but please keep trying. Please mark the fax "care of the Human Rights Department, Foreign Ministry)
    Salutation: Your Excellency

    Mr Mohammad Hassan Zia'i-Far
    Secretary, Islamic Human Rights Commission
    PO Box 13165-137, Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran
    Telegrams: Secretary, Islamic Human Rights Commission, Tehran, Iran
    Faxes: + 98 21 204 0541
    E-mail: ihrc@Majlis.ir
    Salutation: Dear Sir

    PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after 31 July 2002.

    Source: Amnesty International, International Secretariat,
    1 Easton Street, WC1X 8DJ, London, United Kingdom